Khalili, Afghan National Poet

Khalilullah Khalili was born in Kabul in 1907 and died on May 4 in Islamabad, Pakistan at the age of 80.

Ustad Khalilullah Khalili was a professor of history and literature at Kabul University until 1949, when he became Minister of Information and Culture.

He served in Parliament during King Zahir Shah's rule and in 1963 he became a diplomat.
Ustad Khalili lost his father when he was very young during the kingdom of Amir Amanullah Khan.
He was a great poet whose works are known internationally including his poetry especially quatrains, and many of his works have been translated into English.
He was the author of more than 62 works ranging from poetry to fiction and sufism.
Khalili is also considered one of those who wrote the first samples of the new Persian poetry in Afghanistan that is referred to as Nimayi poetry named after the founder of the school Nima Yoshij in Iran.
He is one of the few Afghan poets whose poems have been included in Afghan school books.